Minneapolis Telecommunications Network
Board of Directors Meeting
Thursday, October 9, 2008

Members Present: Kevin Jenkins, Andrew Hedden, Marido Huber, Tom Cassidy
Board Members Absent: Robert Vose, Barb Nei, Tamir Nolley, Floyd Child, Joel Rainville
Ex-Officio Present: Delpha Harris, Edie French
Others Present: Pam Colby, Beth Peloff

Huber called the committee of the whole at 5:38 p.m.


I. Opening Business

A. Comments from public, staff and board – no comments

B. Approval of the agenda.


II. Reports

A. City of Minneapolis – John Harrison not present
No report.

B. Minneapolis Public Schools –Edie French presented.
They are continuing to educate the children of Minneapolis. The State of the Schools address which took place at the Pohlad Auditorium in the Central Library was streamed live online. French said they just had a great partnership with MTN producing a live television show about autism in the Somali community. It was a live call-in show in Somali, hosted by Somali TV and cablecast live on Channel 6. It is currently showing on the public schools channels.

C. Comcast – Delpha Harris presented
Nothing to report.

D. Executive Director's Report - Colby presented
At the last board meeting there was a motion to talk to the Leadership Committee about MTN bylaws changes related to how MTN selects board members. Paul Ostrow told Colby that it should go through Ways and Means. Colby and Huber, and Hedden will meet with members of that committee. Colby will schedule the meeting.

Thanks to those who came to the 25th Anniversary party. Thanks to Tom Cassidy for leadership on fundraising aspects. There was a good reaction to the party and strong attendance. There were four council members present.

We just got new t-shirts in. You should go downstairs and check them out.

We purchased a computer that works in conjunction with our video server. It will allow us to improve the look of our channels and also provide our viewers with more detailed information about what programming is coming up next. It arrived this week and is being set up at our playback facilities on Plymouth Avenue. It would be wonderful if we could have that and the rest of playback at our St. Anthony Main location. Huber said she was looking into how to make that happen.

Colby, John Akre and Beth Peloff met with Bill Hanley and Tom at TPT about putting some of our programs on the Minnesota Channel. We could even have sponsors for the shows. It is our choice what we decide to broadcast.

MTN?s personnel policy is being changed to discontinued cashouts for sick time. Our employment lawyer thinks that the staff needs lots of notice, so MTN should not have the policy change until January 1st. Colby will have draft proposal ready for the November meeting and the board will vote on it in December.

E. Treasurer's Report. Hedden presented.
Colby passed out the 2009 budget. The Finance Committee has looked at it. They talked about having MTN do advertising for classes. Colby already had a meeting with staff about this issue.

Cassidy asked about getting a live feed at the Ritz. Lance Leupold told Colby that the drop was too far to be able to do it cheaply. Colby said that she believes the franchise agreement said the cable company has the obligation to provide a live feed from a non-profit location at our request. There have been precedents for this. Harris said she would talk to Leupold about the issue. Cassidy also asked whether the Ritz could get a live feed if they had cable.

IV. Adjourn
Committee of the whole adjourned at 6:06 pm.